[RTC List] Broadband policy

[Sean McLaughlin]

Here's some grist for the mill as we look forward to the upcoming 
Broadband Forum!



NATIONAL STRATEGY, FOCUS ON OPENNESS, COMPETITION CAN INFORM US 
BROADBAND PUSH
[SOURCE: Benton Foundation press release]
As key Congressional panels examine U.S. broadband competitiveness 
today, the Benton Foundation releases two new research papers 
highlighting the international, innovative policy approaches that have 
propelled other countries into positions of broadband leadership. 
Pennsylvania State University's Amit M. Schejter finds that Europeans 
have embraced, perfected, and are benefiting from the open competitive 
network concepts first developed, but later abandoned by, U.S. 
policymakers. The strengths of the European system are focus, 
simplicity, relative efficiency and willingness to change the course of 
policy as needed, an effective balance between centralization and 
delegation of power, and innovation. The result is broadband penetration 
that exceeds that of the U.S. in many European Union nations. 
Pennsylvania State University's Krishna Jayakar and Indiana University's 
Harmeet Sawhney examine the national broadband strategies adopted by 
countries around the world. Many embrace "ubiquitous" broadband for the 
competitive advantages it offers not just as a societal goal. Effective 
national strategies focus on development of "soft infrastructure" that 
enables broadband innovations -- applications, services, and devices - 
and thereby make broadband more valuable to ordinary consumers and 
drives its uptake.
http://www.benton.org/benton_files/bentonresearch.doc
* What Lessons can the U.S. learn from Broadband Policies in Europe?
http://www.benton.org/benton_files/Schejter.doc
* Universal access in the information economy: Tracking policy 
innovations abroad
http://www.benton.org/benton_files/Jayakar_Sawhney.doc
* Studies Question Effectiveness of U.S. Broadband Build-out
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6435745.html


-- 
Sean McLaughlin
Executive Director
Access Humboldt
1915 J Street, Eureka, CA 95501
tel: 707-476-1798
fax: 707-445-1956
cel: 707-616-2381
e: seanm at accesshumboldt.net
web:  accesshumboldt.net